More

Harper: ‘I’m Not Going To Be Mr. Tim Tebow’

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 06: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals hits a sacrifice fly to left scoring Denard Span #2 in the seventh inning during a game against the San Diego Padres at Nationals Park on July 6, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (CBSDC) – While discussing his Mormon faith, Washington Nationals player Bryce Harper said that he did not plan to discuss his religion frequently – unlike a prominent NFL player of note.

“If somebody asks me about it, I’ll tell them about it, but I’m not going to be Mr. Tim Tebow,” Harper was quoted as saying by the Washington Times.

He noted that he did not mean the comment as an insult.

Tebow, a quarterback who is currently a free agent, rose to fame during his time at the University of Florida. He continued to ride high during his storied season as the Denver Broncos’ starting quarterback before a failed season with the New York Jets. Soon after joining the New England Patriots, he was released.

Throughout his career, Tebow has been vocal about his Christian faith. He has also demonstrated his religious dedication by writing Bible verses such as “John 3:16″ on his eye blacks during every game.

Harper added, “I’m going to try to be the best person I can off the field [and promote my faith that way].”

While talking with the Times, Harper also discussed the fact that he chose not to go on a Mormon mission – and credited his mother with helping him make the decision.

“My mom always told me, ‘You can touch a lot more lives playing baseball and doing good things than you would on a mission,’” he was quoted as saying. “It’s very true. Shoot, I’ll tweet about God and get 1,500 retweets and it’s like, that just went to 1,500 people or more.”